Galveston County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Galveston County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Galveston County is much higher than Texas average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #191
| Galveston County | 0.00 |
| Texas | 0.04 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Galveston County | 0.0000 |
| Texas | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #27
| Galveston County | 281.87 |
| Texas | 208.58 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 4,483 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Galveston County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 2 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 47 |
| Dust Storm: | 5 | Flood: | 614 | Hail: | 1,428 | Heat: | 14 | Heavy Snow: | 15 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 9 | Ice Storm: | 12 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 51 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,913 | Tropical Storm: | 11 | Wildfire: | 8 | Winter Storm: | 17 | Winter Weather: | 23 |
| Other: | 314 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Galveston County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Galveston County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Galveston County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 52 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Galveston County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.1 | 1981-06-05 | 2 | 29°15'N / 94°51'W | 2.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Galveston | |
| 3.1 | 1961-09-12 | 3 | 29°16'N / 94°52'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 8.1 | 1971-03-09 | 2 | 29°20'N / 94°50'W | 0.50 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Chambers | |
| 8.4 | 1970-10-11 | 2 | 29°21'N / 94°53'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 9.1 | 1961-06-18 | 3 | 29°19'N / 94°47'W | 2.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 9.1 | 1961-09-12 | 4 | 29°19'N / 94°47'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 8 | 200 | 0K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 11.9 | 1957-03-17 | 2 | 29°24'N / 94°55'W | 1 | 7 | 0K | 0 | Galveston | |||
| 12.6 | 1967-10-29 | 2 | 29°09'N / 95°05'W | 0.10 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 13.0 | 1967-08-18 | 3 | 29°25'N / 94°55'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 15.0 | 1959-05-21 | 3 | 29°23'N / 94°46'W | 29°25'N / 94°43'W | 4.30 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Galveston |
| 16.5 | 1957-03-17 | 2 | 29°23'N / 95°08'W | 29°28'N / 94°58'W | 11.60 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 4 | 0K | 0 | Galveston |
| 16.6 | 1957-03-17 | 2 | 29°25'N / 94°49'W | 29°28'N / 94°43'W | 7.10 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 4 | 0K | 0 | Galveston |
| 17.7 | 1957-03-17 | 2 | 29°29'N / 94°56'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Galveston | |||
| 19.5 | 1981-05-09 | 2 | 29°29'N / 95°02'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Galveston | |
| 22.8 | 1981-06-05 | 2 | 29°32'N / 94°45'W | 1.50 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Chambers | |
| 24.0 | 1976-03-08 | 3 | 29°27'N / 95°14'W | 29°31'N / 95°06'W | 9.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Galveston |
| 24.2 | 1970-08-04 | 2 | 29°25'N / 95°14'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Galveston | |||
| 24.3 | 1950-02-11 | 2 | 29°25'N / 95°15'W | 29°31'N / 95°08'W | 9.90 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Brazoria |
| 28.2 | 2002-03-30 | 3 | 29°37'N / 95°01'W | 29°38'N / 95°00'W | 0.70 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 350K | 0 | Harris |
| Brief Description: This Tornado began its path in the Shoreacres subdivision, 3 miles south of La Porte, with a home on Greenleaf Road receiving structural and roof damage (F1), then moved northeast and partially demolished a Super Mart on Broadway (F3), then ripped through an apartment complex across the street causing major roof and window damage and knocking down trees (F2), collapsing a car garage and destroying at least one car. Just northeast of the apartments, a few homes had minor damage with fences and large trees down. On Carlisle Street, in the Bayside Terrace subdivision, a few homes had minor roof damage, yard trees down, and debris from the convenience store, while part of the roof off the Super Mart dropped onto a Truck parked at the north end of Carlisle next to Galveston Bay. No injuries were reported. A survey was conducted. | |||||||||||
| 29.2 | 1976-03-08 | 3 | 29°22'N / 95°26'W | 29°27'N / 95°14'W | 13.40 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 18 | 2.5M | 0 | Brazoria |
| 30.5 | 1981-05-03 | 2 | 29°26'N / 95°19'W | 29°32'N / 95°18'W | 7.20 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 10 | 250K | 0 | Brazoria |
| 31.1 | 1974-10-31 | 2 | 29°37'N / 95°10'W | 29°37'N / 95°09'W | 1.90 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Harris |
| 31.9 | 1984-12-31 | 2 | 29°36'N / 95°12'W | 29°39'N / 95°08'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 53 | 25.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 32.5 | 1971-03-09 | 2 | 29°35'N / 95°15'W | 1.00 Mile | 440 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Harris | |
| 32.6 | 1983-02-09 | 2 | 29°29'N / 95°21'W | 29°34'N / 95°17'W | 8.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Brazoria |
| 33.7 | 1974-10-31 | 2 | 29°41'N / 95°04'W | 29°43'N / 95°01'W | 4.30 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Harris |
| 34.3 | 1974-10-28 | 3 | 29°42'N / 95°01'W | 29°44'N / 94°59'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 1 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Harris |
| 35.3 | 1966-04-18 | 3 | 29°04'N / 95°27'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Brazoria | |
| 36.4 | 2003-11-17 | 2 | 29°40'N / 95°14'W | 29°40'N / 95°14'W | 0.70 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 550K | 0 | Harris |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down just east of Highway 288 in the Third Ward. One church completely destroyed, 50 homes damaged, and extensive tree damage. Wind damage to several downtown buildings in SE Houston near Minute Maid ballpark. A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded. These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary. | |||||||||||
| 36.5 | 1964-03-19 | 2 | 29°45'N / 95°00'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Harris | |
| 36.8 | 1950-02-11 | 3 | 29°40'N / 95°03'W | 29°50'N / 95°00'W | 12.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 1 | 12 | 25K | 0 | Harris |
| 37.4 | 2001-10-11 | 2 | 29°42'N / 95°12'W | 29°42'N / 95°12'W | 3.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.8M | 0 | Harris |
| Brief Description: 120 homes, 3 apartment complexes, 2 schools, and some businesses damaged by a tornado. The tornado touched down near Fairmont and Shaver, moving northeast to near the intersection of Southmore and Red-Bluff Road. | |||||||||||
| 37.7 | 1973-04-26 | 2 | 29°48'N / 95°01'W | 29°44'N / 94°59'W | 5.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Harris |
| 37.9 | 1969-09-08 | 3 | 29°42'N / 95°13'W | 0.80 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Harris | |
| 39.8 | 1961-09-11 | 3 | 29°46'N / 95°08'W | 1.00 Mile | 83 Yards | 0 | 22 | 0K | 0 | Harris | |
| 40.0 | 1969-05-27 | 3 | 29°47'N / 94°42'W | 1.50 Miles | 67 Yards | 3 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Chambers | |
| 41.3 | 1974-10-28 | 2 | 29°31'N / 94°29'W | 29°47'N / 94°20'W | 20.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chambers |
| 42.5 | 1965-01-22 | 2 | 29°35'N / 94°19'W | 0.10 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Shelby | |
| 43.6 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 29°42'N / 95°23'W | 29°47'N / 95°15'W | 12.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 44.1 | 1971-07-29 | 2 | 29°50'N / 95°08'W | 0.30 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 8 | 25K | 0 | Harris | |
| 44.3 | 1983-02-09 | 2 | 29°39'N / 95°27'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Harris | |
| 44.8 | 1992-11-21 | 4 | 29°44'N / 95°17'W | 29°57'N / 95°00'W | 20.00 Miles | 1800 Yards | 0 | 15 | 250.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 45.3 | 1978-05-29 | 2 | 29°48'N / 95°16'W | 0.20 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Harris | |
| 45.4 | 1964-04-17 | 2 | 29°55'N / 95°23'W | 29°42'N / 95°07'W | 21.90 Miles | 27 Yards | 1 | 2 | 3K | 0 | Harris |
| 46.9 | 1974-10-28 | 3 | 29°38'N / 94°22'W | 29°45'N / 94°17'W | 9.60 Miles | 67 Yards | 1 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Chambers |
| 46.9 | 1979-09-18 | 2 | 29°44'N / 95°25'W | 1.00 Mile | 350 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Harris | |
| 47.5 | 1971-06-20 | 2 | 29°54'N / 95°04'W | 0.30 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 20 | 250K | 0 | Harris | |
| 47.6 | 2003-11-17 | 2 | 29°37'N / 95°33'W | 29°37'N / 95°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Harris |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. Tornado moved over the intersection of West Bellfort and Kirkwood. Numerous apartments lost roofs in the extensive SW Village Apartment Complex damage. A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded. These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary. | |||||||||||
| 48.1 | 1977-12-13 | 3 | 29°47'N / 95°17'W | 29°59'N / 95°03'W | 19.70 Miles | 400 Yards | 1 | 35 | 25.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 48.7 | 2003-11-17 | 2 | 29°38'N / 95°34'W | 29°38'N / 95°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Fort Bend |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. One home lost roof with several other homes damaged. A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded. These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary. | |||||||||||
| 49.4 | 1997-10-23 | 2 | 29°54'N / 95°04'W | 29°58'N / 95°00'W | 7.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Harris |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down on the east shore of Lake Houston and moved northeast into extreme western Liberty County. This tornado was mostly F0 and F1 with some F2 damage at Foley Rd and Dallas Rd where a boat house was extremely damaged. An 18-wheeler in the same area was overturned and moved 50 feet. | |||||||||||
| 49.8 | 1982-05-06 | 2 | 29°57'N / 94°53'W | 0.50 Mile | 37 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Liberty | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.